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Category Archives: Around France

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This is our last week in the Loire Valley before we finally head back to Paris next Wednesday after spending the entire summer away. One of my favourite things that we did this summer was a late afternoon visit to the majestically beautiful Château de Chenonceau. The château was built in 1513 and has had […]

We’ve finally made it to the beach, Little Miss’ first time! She’s not yet loving the cold Atlantic water but she adores and is fascinated by the sand. It’s wonderful to be here with the fresh ocean air! C’est que du bonheur!

Yesterday, for our second wedding anniversary DH brought me (and Little Miss, thankfully asleep in her stroller) to La Table de Mestré for a delicious lunch. It was unfortunately too hot to sit outside, but isn’t this garden so tempting? It must be heaven in the lazy Loire evenings. The Domaine de Mestré is owned […]

We had a low-key Bastille Day in the Loire Valley. I was slightly tempted at some point to bring Little Miss out for her first fireworks display but in the end rest and relaxation won out. In the afternoon we visited Fontevraud L’Abbaye, a town that’s 5 minutes from us, and home to a magnificent […]

I’ve discovered a new addictive website. This private sale site dedicated to everything for children! They have brands that I love, like April Showers. Here are some items I was looking at this morning! Of course you need to get online early, as sizes go quickly. They carry other designers like Oscar et Valentine, Little […]

On Saturday we visited the Château du Rivau for their Fête de Jardin. The garden is perfect for little kids with big imaginations: you will encounter all manner of “enchanted” creatures (above and below). Mysterious towers… And works of art. This was my favourite “folie” but there’s much, much more to see, including all sorts […]

This May has been one of the wettest ever, and according to Météo France, there’s only a 10% chance that we’ll have a warm and dry summer! A few days ago this stormy sky suddenly appeared as I was working on the second floor. The horizon was very menacing but the field just before, in […]

By now you may have noticed that our life in the countryside is governed a lot by food and markets! This morning we woke bright and early to get to the Tuesday market in Bourgueil. It’s centralised under an old Halle (covered market), but on Tuesday it also extends out into the streets of the town […]

As promised, here is my mother-in-law’s simple and delicious accompaniment to delectable white asparagus, made by DH, and inspired by our recent trip to the market in Chinon. A close up of the kilo we brought home. Here they are cooked to perfection, and below, your perfectly prepared French plat. What you will need: Nicely […]

We’re back in the Loire Valley for a couple of weeks, enjoying the country air, but not the weather, as it’s currently quite grey and flooded everywhere. On Sunday, we visited one of our local markets in Chinon to stock up for the week. These white asparagus were a third of the price of those […]